Front end loader



June 27, 1967' LE GRAND H. LULL 3,327,879

FRONT END LOADER 8 Sheets--Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1965 INVENTOR. LE GPA/V0 H. LULL June 27, 1967 LE GRAND H. LULL 3,327,879

FRONT END LOADER 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1965 INVENTOR LE GRAND H [.ULL

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LE GRAND H. LULL FRONT END LOADER Filed Sept. 20, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. LE GPA/VD H. LULL Y x3 TTOFMEV n 1967 LE GRAND H. LULL 3,327,879

v FRONT END LOADER Filed Sept. 20, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR- LE GRAND H. LULL A rro RUE) June 7, 1967 LE GRAND H. LULL 3,327,879

FRONT END LOADEH 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept.

INVENTOR. LE GRAND H. LULL P16. 21 BY A Twi /Z4 June 27, 1967 LE GRAND H. LULL FRONT END LOADER Filed Sept. 20, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY June 27, 1967 .LE GRAND H. LULL 3,327,879

FRONT END LOADER 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 20, 1965 INVENTOR. LE GRAND H LULL BY M XM- ATTORNEY June 2 196 LE GRAND H. LULL 3,327,879

FRONT END LOADER 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 20, 1965 INVENTOR LE ERA/VD H. LULL BY 7fl HZ.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,327,879 FRONT END LOADER Le Grand H. Lull, 5501 Woodlawn Blvd, Minneapolis, Minn. 55417 Filed Sept. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 492,352 20 Claims. (Cl. 214-767) This invention relates to a machine for loading, lifting, carrying, and delivering various articles such as logs, piping, lumber and the like.

A general object of the invention is to provide a machine that can be used to unload elongated articles such as logs from the gondola cars and place such articles in other open carriers with a minimum of effort and maximum efficiency.

Other objects of the invention are: to provide a front end loader having unique chassis characteristics; to provide in a loader of this type including telescopic boom means adapted to permit forward reaching; to provide in a loader of this type novel means for mounting the hydraulic cylinders used to extend and retract the boom; to provide in such a loader novel and improved means for mounting the hydraulic lines carried by the front end of the boom; to provide in a front end loader of this type novel and improved load handling carriage means; to provide a loader of this type including novel and improved means for tilting the carriage through a wide vertical angle whereby to maintain the forks thereof in a substantially vertical position when the boom is elevated; to provide in a front end loader having a forwardly extending pivotal boom and a load handling carriage at its front end novel means for tilting the carriage through a substantially vertical plane whereby to move the carriage from an upper load cradling position to a lower load engaging position with the forks of the carriage angularly displaced in a substantially vertical position when the boom is raised whereby to effectuate the unloading of logs from an open gondola car; to provide in a loader of this type novel and improved load clamping means cooperable with the forks to clamp and hold articles therebetween; to provide in clamping means of this type novel means for moving the load clamping elements thereof from a lower load clamping position with respect to the forks to an upwardly and rearwardly inclined load supporting position in rearwardly disposed relation to the heel of the forks; to provide in a load handling carriage including a pair of lifting forks novel end structure for the forks adapted to engage logs without damaging them; to provide load clamping means for a loader carriage including novel hold down finger structure adapted to engage logs without causing damage thereto and adapted to be moved out of the way when the clamping means is raised into a lumber carrying position; to provide alternate load clamping means for a loader carriage including novel clamping arm structure operated by a single hydraulic cylinder; and in general, to provide novel improved loader, carriage, tilt bracket and loader clamping arm means of the type described that is highly versatile and dependable in operation, relatively simple and inexpensive to construct, and extremely rugged and long wearing in service.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein representative embodiments of the several features of the invention are shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the chassis structure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, partially in section, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top view of the boom and carriage section of the machine;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the boom;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the load handling carriage of the machine with parts removed for the sake of clary;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side View, partially in section, taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are enlarged fragmentary views taken on the lines 13-13 and 14-14, respectively, of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a view, partially in section, taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tilt bracket;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 19-19 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 20 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 21 is a side view of the load clamping means forming part of the invention, the dotted lines indicating the same in an open lumber or box handling position and the solid lines indicating it in a closed log gripping position;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 22-22 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 23-23 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 24-24 of FIG. 21

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 25-25 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 26-26 of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary view, taken on the line 27-27 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line 28-28 of FIG. 21

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary view, taken on the line 29-29 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 30 is a side view of an alternate form of the clamping means forming part of the invention;

FIG. 31 is a front view of the structure shown in FIG. 31;

FIG. 32 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 31; and

FIGS. 33-37, inclusive, are side views of the machine illustrating its load handling characteristics during various positions of the boom, the carriage and the first embodiment of the load clamping means.

The chassis and boom Referring to FIGS. 1-9 of the drawings, the invention, indicated in its entirety by the reference character A, includes a mobile body 10 supported by a chassis 12 which includes a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending tubular stringers 14, 16 that are equipped at their ends with wheels 18 which are driven and steerable. As shown in FIG. 2, the stringers 14, 16 are generally parallel at their rear ends and diverge outwardly and incline downwardly, as at 22, forwardly of their longitudinal midsection into communication with the forward axle which is somewhat lower than the axis of the parallel section of the stringers 14, 16. This construction results in an extremely high strength-weight ratio for the chassis 12 and the use of tubular sections for the longitudinal stringers 14, 16 enables the machine to perform under all loading and running conditions without suffering excessive bending or torsional strains as is often the case with other structural shapes. In addition, the tubular stringers 14, 16 can be formed into the shape illustrated by a single bending operation.

The chassis 12 carries a forwardly extending boom 24 of the telescopic reaching type as generally disclosed in my Patent No. 3,178,046, issued Apr. 13, 1965, and entitled Mobile Loader With Extendible Boom. The boom 24, pivotally mounted at its rear, as at 25, upon the body 10, includes a longitudinally fixed pivotal U-shaped outer frame 26, comprising lift arms 29, 31 and a longitudinally movable U-shaped frame 28, comprising lift arms 33, 35 telescopically slidably mounted within outer frame 26. A pair of lift cylinders 30, 32 connect the frame 26 with stringers 14, 16 to pivot the boom 24 in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis generally coincident with the rear pivotal mounting 25 of the boom. Rollers 34, 36 extend through suitable apertures in the lift arms 29, 31 of outer frame 26 to rotatably engage the lift arms 33, of inner frame 28 and facilitate its telescopic movement with respect to outer frame 26. The forward end of the lift arms 33, 35 of inner frame 28 is equipped with a pair of downwardly and forwardly inclined load supporting arms 38, 40, each of which form longitudinal extensions of the lift arms 33, 35. The arms 38, are connected by an upper lateral support member 42 and a lower support member 43, which extends between brackets 45. Laterally outwardly extending hollow brackets 47, 49 are provided adjacent the brackets 45 at the lower ends of arms 38, 40.

Extension and retraction of the inner frame 28 is accomplished by a pair of reaching cylinders 44, 46 which are carried beneath arms 29, 31, respectively, of the outer frame 26. Each cylinder 44, 46 is pivotally mounted at its rear to a depending bracket member 47. The forward end of each cylinder 44, 46 is carried by a flexible floating mount 48, as more particularly shown in FIGS. 68, which permits its limited movement to accommodate for non axial motion that may be transmitted to each cylinder by its piston rod 50, which is connected to a bracket 52 secured to the arms 38, 40. The floating mount 48 includes a depending supporting plate 54 having a downwardly open section 56 adapted to surround the side of the cylinder. Further provided is a secondary plate 58 having an upwardly open section 60 adapted to surround the side and the bottom of the cylinder and which is bolted to the plate 54 in closely spaced axial relation thereto. A pair of semicircular rubber supports 62, 64, are mounted between the plates 54, 58 and have radii of lesser extent than the open sections 56, 60, resulting in their surrounding supporting engagement with the body of the cylinder.

The hollow construction of the outer frame 26 and the construction of the inner lift arms 33, 35 permit the mounting of hydraulic lines 66 within the space therebetween as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8. The lines 66 are brought out of the outerframe 26 in a loop 68 which is connected at its outer end to a bracket 68 (see FIGS. 5 and 9) carried by the arms 38, 40 thus allowing for the retraction and extension of the boom 24 without interference with the hydraulic lines that are used in supplying pressure fluid to the load carrying elements mounted on the front end of the boom.

The carriage and tilt bracket The lower brackets 47, 49 of arms 38, 40 provide support for a load handling carriage 70 and a tilt bracket 72 both of which are mounted thereon for rocking movement in a generally vertical plane about a common horizontal axis generally coincident with a lateral axis extending through brackets 47, 49. FIGS. 10l8 illustrate these features in detail.

The carriage 70 includes a pair of laterally spaced upstanding side plates 74, 76 which are connected by a lower support bar 78, an intermediate support bar 80 and an upper tubular member 82. Struts 84 are provided for additional strength. Connecting the support bars 78 and 80 are upstanding laterally spaced rearwardly extending lower pivot plates 86, 88, and 92 which form, by virtue of holes 93 adjacent their lower rear corners, means for connecting the carriage 70 to the lower end of arms 38, 40, as will become apparent. Also included in carriage 70 are a pair of upstanding laterally spaced upper pivot plates 94 and 96 which extend between support bar 80 and tubular member 82 and have apertured lugs 97, 99 forming pivotal mounting means for connecting the tilt bracket 72 thereto, as will be explained. The lower pivot plates 86 and 88 form one pair of pivotal mounting elements for the carriage 70 while the lower pivot plates 90 and 92 form another pair in laterally spaced relation thereto. The plates 86, 88 are laterally spaced from plates 90, 92 and the inner plates 88 and 90 of each pair are spaced laterally outwardly of the upper pivot plates 94 and 96. The carriage 70 is further equipped with a fixed centrally disposed upstanding bracket structure 100 including a pair of laterally spaced rearwardly and upwardly extending support plates 102, 104 which are secured at their lower ends to the middle of tubular member 82. A brace 106 connects the upper forward surface of the plates 102 and 104. Holes 108 are provided in the upper end of each plate 102 and 104 and a tubular brace 110 connects them adjacent their lower end. A pair of laterally spaced rearwardly extending apertured brackets 112, 114 are secured to tubular member 82 just inwardly of the plates 94, 96, respectively. The purpose of bracket structure 100 and brackets 112, 114 is to support the load clamping means, as will become clear as the description proceeds.

A pair of laterally space-d lifting forks 120, 122 are provided for carriage 70. Each of the forks 120, 122 includes a rear vertical leg 124 that is secured, as by bolting, to the support bars 78, 80 and a forwardly extending horizontal leg 126. The forward end of leg 126 is expanded laterally in a spoonbill shape 127 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Further to this end, I provide a generally cylindrical load engaging pin 128 that is curved convex forwardly and is connected to the sides of each fork 120, 122 by tapered fillers 129.

The tilt bracket 72, as illustrated more particularly in FIGS. 1518, includes a laterally extending lower support member 130 from each end of which depends hollow bracket members 132, 134. A pair of upstanding laterally spaced inner pivot plates 136, 138, secured at their lower ends to support member 130, each have a rearwardly extending upper section that is provided with a series of spaced holes 142 adjacent its upper surface. Diagonal braces 141 connect plates 136, 138 with member 130 and members 143, 145 are provided to add strength. Laterally outwardly of the inner pivot plates 136, 138, a pair of upstanding and slightly rearwardly inclined laterally spaced outer pivot plates 144, 146, secured at their lower ends to support member 130, are provided with each having a rearwardly extending upper section running generally parallel to sections 140 of plates 136, 138. The upper section 150 of plates 144, 146 is provided with spaced holes 152 that are in register with the holes 142 of the upper section 140 of plates 136, 138. The upper forward end of the inner plates 136, 138 are equipped with hollow aligned bosses 137, 139 for receiving the piston end of a cylinder, as will be explained.

The carriage 70 and tilt bracket 72 are both rotatably mounted for rocking movement in a vertical plane by virtue of a pair of pivot pins 152, 154 which extend through the brackets 47, 49 in arms 38, 40, the holes 93 in the carriage pivot plates 86, 88, 90, 92 and the hollow bracket members 132, 134 of tilt bracket 72. The tilt bracket 72 is thus rotatably mounted for pivotal movement about a common axis (indicated by the reference numeral 73) with carriage 70 and is disposed between the pivot plates 88, 90 thereof and slightly therebehind. Sleeve members 156 surround the pins 152, 154 on the outer sides of plates 86 and 92.

Power means for pivoting the tilt bracket 72 and the carriage 70 about their common axis is provided in the form of a single hydraulic jack 160 connected between the boom 24 and the tilt bracket 72 and a pair of hydraulic jacks 162, 164 which are connected between the tilt bracket 72 and the carriage 70. The jacks 160, 162, 164 are mounted parallel to each other, with jack 160 being in between jacks 162, 164. The boom mounted jack 160 is connected thereto at its rear end by means of a rearwardly extending bracket structure 166. Bracket structure 166 includes a pair of rather closely spaced longitudinally extending substantially vertically disposed elongated plates 168, 170 which are mounted in rearwardly and slightly downwardly inclined relation to the upper support member 42 of boom 24 between lift arms 38 and 40. The forward ends of plates 168, 170 are connected to the support member 42 by substantially horizontally disposed sections 172, 174 which overlie the top of support member 42. Braces 175 connect the rear ends of plates I168, 170 with the lift arms 38, 40 below support member 42. The rear end of bracket structure 166 includes pin means 176 for pivotally mounting the rear end of jack 160. The forward or piston end of jack 160 is pivotally connected by pin means 178 to tilt bracket 72 between bosses 137, 139 in inner pivot plates 136, 138.

The rear end of jacks 162, 164 are connected to the tilt bracket 72 by pins 180, 182, respectively. The pins 180, 182 are mounted between plates 144, 136 and 138, 146, respectively, in one of the aligned holes 142, 152 therein. The piston rods of jacks 162, 164 are pivotally connected to the carriage 70 by means of a laterally extending pivotal bracket 184 which is mounted between the upper pivot plates 94, 96 of carriage 70. The bracket 184 includes a pair of elongated laterally extending upper and lower plates 186, 188 connected to hollow hearing members 190, 192 at their ends which are pivotally mounted in plates 94 and 96 by pins 194, 196, respectively. As shown in FIG. 19, the end 197 of the piston rod of each jack 162, 164 is hollow and is pivotally secured between plates 186, 188 by a pin member 198 extending therethrough.

With this construction, it can be seen that extension of and retraction of the piston rod of jack 160 results in the pivoting of tilt bracket 72 about the axis 73. When the tilt bracket 72 is pivoted the jacks 162, 164 move therewith causing carriage 70 to be tilted about the axis 73 with bracket 72. Further angular displacement of the carriage 70 is effected by the extension of the piston rods of jacks 162, 164. Thus the jacks 160, 162 and 164 are operable to impart a two stage pivotal displacement of the carriage 70 about the axis 73. The jacks A160, 162, and 164 are connected together in a hydraulic circuit operated under fluid pressure under the control of the operator through Valve means (not shown) which permits the introduction of fluid pressure to one of the ends of the jack cylinders while exhausting from the other end. The jack 160 is series connected to both of the jacks 162, 164, which are connected in parallel to each other. Fiuid under pressure is thus allowed to be retained in both ends of each cylinder of the jacks to hold its piston and consequently the tilt bracket 72 and the carriage 70 in any desired set angular position. The fluid follows the line of least resistance in the cylinders of each jack with the result that initial angular displacement of the carriage 70 and the tilt bracket 72 takes place between the tilt bracket 72 and thehoom 24 with the extension of the piston rod of jack 160. During this time the carriage and the tilt bracket 72 pivot together. Further angular displacement of carriage 70 takes place after the piston rod of jack 160 is fully extended, at which time the piston rods of jacks 162, 164 are extended under fluid pressure to cause the carriage 70 to move relative to the tilt bracket 72.

Thus, through the actions of the jacks 160, 162, and 164'and the tilt bracket 72, the carriage 70 may be swung from an upper load cradling position through an extremely wide vertical angle into the forwardly and downwardly inclined position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. As illustrated therein, the forks 120, 1122 of the carriage 70 are inclined rearwardly of the vertical when the boom is raised making them useful for scooping out logs, piping, and the like from gondola cars, as will become apparent.

The load clamping means This part of the description deals with the load clamp ing means, the preferred embodiment of which is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral and disclosed in FIGS. 22-29 of the drawings with an alternate form, indicated by the reference numeral 320, being shown in FIGS. 3032.

As pointed out earlier, the upper tubular member 82 of carriage 70 is provided with a fixed centrally disposed rearwardly and upwardly extending bracket structure 108 including support plates 102, 104; and in addition, tubular members carry rearwardly extending laterally spaced brackets 112, 114. Pivotally secured at their rear ends to brackets 112, 114 is a longitudinally extending upper arm structure 201 consisting of laterally spaced upper arms 200 and 202. Arms 200, 202 are each characterized by a relatively straight lower surface 204 extending from their forward end 206 into communication with a down wardly curved cut out section 208 adapted to overlie the upper section of tubular support member 82. The rear end of each arm 200, 202 is provided with an aperture 210 adapted to permit the pivotal mounting of the upper arms 200, 202 into brackets 112, 114 by means of pivot pins 212. Connecting the upper arms 200, 202 forwardly of tubular support member 82 is a laterally split forward pivot pin assembly 214, consisting of inwardly extending pivot pins 215, 217, and a one piece rear pivot pin 216. A lateral brace 218 is also provided. Power means for pivoting arm 201 about the axis of pivot pins 212 (a lateral axis just rearwardly of tubular member 82) includes a hydraulic jack 220 which is pivotally mounted for limited rocking movement within bracket structure by means of a saddle 222. Saddle 222 includes a pair of outer pivot plates 224 that are rigidly connected to the cylinder 221 of jack 220 adjacent its upper end. The pivot plates 224 are rockably mounted between the upper ends of support plates 102, 104 of bracket structure 100 by laterally inwardly extending pins 226 to allow the jack 220 to pivot thereabout in a generally vertical plane at the upper end of the bracket structure 100. The piston rod 221 of jack 220 is pivotally joined to the rear pivot pin 216 between the arms 202 and 212. Extension and retraction of the piston rod 221 of jack 228 is operable to effect the raising and lowering of the arm 201 about the common rear axis of arms 200, 202.

The forward pivot assembly 214 and the rear pivot pin 216 pivotally carry a pair of forward link members 228,

230, and a pair of rear link members 232, 234, respectively. The link members 228, 230, 232 and 234 are parallel to each other and extend in directions away from the lower surface 204 of arms 200 and 202. The lower ends of forward link members 228 and 230 are joined by a laterally extending forward pivot pin 236. The lower ends of rear link members 232 and 234 are joined by a laterally extending rear pivot pin 238. The pivot pins 236 and 238 are carried at the ends of link members 228, 230, 232 and 234 and are generally parallel to the pivot pin assembly 214 and pivot pin 216. Pivotally connected by the pivot pins 236 and 238 and joined to the link members 228, 236, 232 and 234 is a lower arm structure 235 consisting of a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending lower support arms 248 and 242. Power means for rotating the links 228, 230, 232 and 234 about pivot pins 214, 21 6, 236 and 238, whereby to effect parallelogram type opening and closing movements of the lower arm structure 235 with respect to the upper arm structure 201 is provided by means of a hydraulic jack 244, which is pivotally carried by the forward pivot pin assembly 214. To this end, the cylinder 246 of jack 244 is provided with side plates 248 which extend rearwardly and upwardly into engagement with an end plate 250 of the cylinder 246. The side plates 248 are apertured at their lower rear ends to receive the inner ends of the pivot pins 215, 217 of assembly 214. Sleeves 256, 258 surround the pins 215, 217 between upper arms 200, 202 and side plates 248 of jack 244. Forwardly and upwardly inclined tension members 260 connect the upper arms 208, 202 and overlie in spaced relationship the rear end of cylinder 246 to permit the jack 244 to pivot about the axis of pin assembly 214 without interference therefrom and to prevent the upper arms 200, 202 from spreading.

The piston rod 247 of jack 244 is pivotally connected at its end to a pivot pin 262 extending between the rear link members 232, 234- intermediate their length. Struts 264 provide bracing for the rear link members 232 and 234. Extension and retraction of the piston rod 247 of jack 244 operates to move the lower arm structure 235, 242, through link members 228, 230, 232 and 234, in directions towards and away from the upper arm structure 281. The pivot pins 214, 216, 236 and 238 form the corners of a parallelogram and the described assembly is thus a four bar linkage adapted to move the support arms 240, 242 of lower arm structure 235 parallel to the upper support arms 200, 282 of upper arm structure 281 during the extension and retraction of the piston rod 247 of jack 244.

Carried forwardly of and pivotally connected to the parallelogram linkage described is a hold down finger, which is indicate-d in its entirety by the reference numeral 270. The hold down finger 270' includes a pair of spaced longitudinally extending triangular shaped plates 272, 274 which are pivotally mounted at their lower rear corners to the forward pivot pin 236 for rocking movement in a generally vertical plane. The plates 272, 274 are slightly curved along their lower edges and are connected at their forward ends to a pair of longitudinal elongated side plates 276, 278 which form extensions thereof. The side plates 276, 278 are connected to and overlie a generally rectangular downwardly curved load gripping plate 280 having a pattern of load gripping protuberances 281 on its concave lower surface. A cylindrical load engaging pin 282 extends across and outwardly of the forward end of plate 286. Inwardly and forwardly inclined braces 284 are pivotally connected at their rear ends to pivot pin 236 and are rigidly connected at their forward ends to plates 276 and 278. Power means for pivoting the hold down finger 270 about the axis of pivot pin 2 36- is provided by a hydraulic jack 290 including a cylinder 292 and a piston rod 294. The cylinder 292 is equipped at its rear end with side plates 296, 298 which :are secured to laterally extending upper and lower bow shaped supports 380, 302. The supports 380, 302 are anchored at their ends to sleeves 304, 386 which rotatably surround the rear pivot pin 238. The end of the piston rod 294 of jack 290 is pivotally connected to a pivot pin 3% which extends between the upper rear corners of plates 272, 274. The rear end of the cylinder 292 of jack 298 is equipped with a hollow sleeve 310 which is pivotally mounted to pivot pin 238 between sleeves 304 and 386. Extension and retraction of the piston rod 294 of jack 290 results in the rocking of hold down finiger 270 in a generally vertical plane about the axis of forward pivot pin 236.

The jack 220, which rotates upper arm structure 20 1 about its axis, is hydraulically connected in series to the jack 244, which operates to open and close the lower arm structure 235 with respect to the upper arm structure 201. Both jacks 220 and 244 are in a hydraulic circuit operated under fluid pressure under the control of the operator through valve means (not shown) which permits the introduction of fluid pressure to one of the ends of the jack cylinders while exhausting from the other end. Fluid under pressure is thus allowed to be retained in both ends of each cylinder of the jacks to hold their pistons and consequently the arm structures 201 and 235 in any desired set angular position. The fluid follows the line of least resistance in the cylinders of the jacks and ordinarily the initial angular displacement occurs by the rotation of the upper arm structure 201 about its axis. When the piston of the jack 220 is fully retracted or extended, the fluid pressure is directed to the jack 244 whereby to close or open the lower arm structure 235 with respect to the upper arm structure 201. As indicated by the dotted lines of FIG. 21, the structures 201 and 235 can be rotated upwardly and rearwardly so as to lie in a plane slightly behind an extension of the forward edge of the side plates 74, 76 of carriage 70 to permit the carriage and forks 120, 122, to carry vertically extending stacks of lumber, large cartons and the like. To this end, the hold down finger 270 may be rotated rearwardly by the retraction of the piston rod 295 of jack 290 so as to also lie behind the aforementioned plane of reference. The jack 290 is independent of jacks 220 and 244 and is in a separate hydraulic circuit operated under fluid pressure under the control of the operator through valve means (not shown) which permits the introduction of fluid pressure to one of the ends of the cylinder 292 while exhausting from the other end. Fluid under pressure is thus allowed to be retained in both ends of the cylinder to hold its piston and consequently the finger 270 in any desired set angular position, either to engage a load or to be moved out of the way in the manner described.

FIGS. 28 to 30, inclusive, illustrate an alternate form of load clampinlg means, designated generally by the reference numeral 320, which may be used with the carriage 70 or with conventional load handling carriages for handling logs, piping, pulpwood and the like. In this case, a pair of forwardly extending laterally spaced brackets 330, 332 are secured to the tubular member 82 to which are pivotally secured, by means of a pivot pin between brackets 330, 332, the rear ends of a pair of forwardly and downwardly curved load gripping arms 3'34, 336. The arms 334, 336 are braced intermediate their length by braces 338 and are joined at their outer slightly converging ends by a laterally extending load engaging cylinder pin 340. Also provided are a pair of laterally spaced rearwardly extending brackets 342, 344 which are secured to member 82 adjacent brackets 330, 332, respectively. The upper surface 345 of brackets 342, 344 is above member 82. A forward pivot pin 346 connects the forward ends of brackets 342, 344 above member 82 and a rear pivot pin 348 connects the upper rear ends thereof. Pins 346 and 348 lie substantially in the same vertical plane above member 82. A linkage system connects the arms 334, 336 with brackets 330, 332 and 34.2, 344. This includes a pair of spaced parallel upstanding rear links 350, 352 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends to pivot pin 348 and a pair of spaced parallel upstanding forward links 354, 356 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends to a pivot pin 358 joining arms 334, 336 forwardly of pivot pin 333. Rear links 350, 352 and forward links 354, 356 are pivotally joined above member 82 by a pivot pin 359'. Pivotally connecting pivot pins 359 and 346 is a hydraulic jack 360' which operates to raise and lower the arms 334, 336- through the action of link members 350, 352, 354 and 356.

Use and operation of the invention FIGS. 3338, in conjunction with FIG. 1 of the drawings serve to point out some of the ways in which the invention may be use-d. As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the loader may be employed in unloading logs, piping and other elongated articles from an open carrier, such as for example, the gondola car B illustrated therein. The tilt bracket 72 and carriage 70 may be adjusted through suitable operator controlled valves to bring the forks of the carriage into a substantially vertical position when the boom 24 is raised. The forks are lowered into the car B and the carriage is tiltedupwardly and rearwardly to engage the load while the load clamping arms are brought thereagainst in cooperation with the forks. As indicated in FIG. 34, the carriage 70 may be tilted rearwardly into a load cradling position to permit the load to be transported without the use of the clamping arms or the arms may be used to facilitate transport of the load when the carriage is either cradled or tilted forwardly. FIGS. 35 and 36 illustrate the use of the carriage 70 and the load clamping structure 75 for more normal on the ground pick-up and discharge. In FIG. 37 the load clamping structure 75 is shown moved upwardly and rearwardly in substantial register with the forward surface of the carriage 70 to form a load engaging supporting surface thereabove. This feature is useful in transporting stacks of lumber, large crates and cartons and other similar loads.

It is evident that changes within the skill of those versed in the art may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In many instances features may be added; in others, features may be omitted. Where the same or similar results may be achieved by the use of equivalents, substitution of the equivalent may be made without departing from the inventive concept.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by surnmarization in the appended claims, all features of patentable novelty residing in the invention.

I claim:

1. In a reaching type mobile loader including a mobile fna rne, an outer forwardly extending U-shaped boom including a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted at its rear end on said frame, an inner U-shaped load carrying frame including a pair of lift arms telescopically slidably carried within said boom having downwardly inclined forward ends, a load handling carriage pivotally mounted on the forward end of said load carrying frame, the combination comprising:

a depending bracket carried by each lift arm of said outer boom,

a rearwardly extending bracket carried by the forward end of each lift arm of said inner boom,

a power cylinder connected between each of said brackets operable to effect extension and retraction of said load carrying frame, and

flexible support means secured to each lift arm of said outer boom and surroundingly engageable with each power cylinder intermediate its length.

2. The loader described in claim 1 wherein said flexible support means includes apertured supporting plate structure secured to the under-surface of said boom, and a resilient flexible apertured support means carried by said supporting plate structure and adapted to surroundingly engage said power cylinder intermediate its length whereby to yieldably support the same.

3. The loader described in claim 1 wherein the crosssection of the lift arms of said inner frame and said outer frame is such that clearance is provided therebetween, fluid pressure lines are carried within said outer boom in the space provided by said clearance, said fluid pressure lines are brought out of said outer boom in a loop, and wherein bracket means are carried by said inner boom to support the end of the loop.

4. In a loader, the combination of:

a mobile body,

a boom pivotally mounted on and extending from said body,

a load handling carriage pivotally mounted at the front end of said boom for swinging movement through a vertical plane,

tilt bracket means pivotally mounted at the front end of said boom for swinging movement through a vertical plane,

first power means connected between said tilt bracket means and said boom, and

second power means connected between said bracket means and said carriage,

said power means being operable to swing said carriage from an upper load cradling position through a vertical arc to a lower pickup and discharge position substantially below said boom.

5. In a loader including a mobile body, and a boom pivotally mounted on and extending from said body, the combination of:

a load handling carriage including forwardly extending lifting tines pivotally mounted on the front end of said boom for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis,

a tilt bracket pivotally mounted on the front end of said boom for swinging movement about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of said carriage,

first power means connected between said boom and said tilt bracket,

second power means connected between said tilt bracket and said carriage,

said power means, tilt bracket and carriage being so constructed and arranged as to effect the swinging of said carriage through a substantially vertical arc from an upper load cradling position with the tines thereof inclined upwardly to a lower load engaging position with the tines thereof disposed substantially vertically.

6. In a loader including a mobile body, an outer forwardly extending U-shaped boom including a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted at its rear end on said body, an inner U-shaped load carrying frame including a pair of lift arms telescopically slidably carried within said boom, a load handling carriage pivotally mounted on the front end of said load carrying frame, the combination comprising:

rearwardly extending hydraulic cylinder mounting bracket structure secured adjacent the front end of said load carrying frame and disposed between the said lift arms,

a tilt bracket pivotally mounted on the front end of said load carrying frame for movement about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of said load handling carriage,

centrally disposed hydraulic cylinder mounting means carried by said tilt bracket,

laterally outwardly disposed hydraulic cylinder mounting means carried by said tilt bracket on either side of said centrally disposed mounting means,

first hydraulic cylinder means mounted between said bracket structure and said centrally disposed hydraulic cylinder mounting of said tilt bracket, and

second hydraulic cylinder means mounted between said laterally outwardly disposed mounting means of said tilt bracket and said carriage,

said hydraulic cylinder means and said tilt bracket being operable to effect the rotation of said carriage about its axis in a vertical plane from an upwardly and rearwardly disposed load cradling position with said tilt bracket being tilted between the said lift arms in surrounding relation to said first cylinder means to a downwardly and forwardly disposed position with said tilt bracket displaced angularly forwardly of said lift arms.

7. The loader described in claim 6 wherein said hydraulic cylinder mounting means carried by said tilt bracket includes a plurality of upstanding laterally spaced inner and outer pivot plates, the said inner plates surrounding said first cylinder means when said tilt bracket is in a rearwardly disposed position.

8. In a loader including a mobile body, a boom pivotally carried by said body, and a load handling carriage pivotally mounted on the front end of said boom, the combination of:

a tilt bracket pivotally carried by the front end of said boom for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of said carriage,

means operable to effect rotation of said tilt bracket with respect to said boom,

means operable to effect rotation of said carriage relative to said boom,

said last mentioned means being connected to said tilt bracket and being oooperable with said first mentioned means to effect the rotation of said carriage through a vertical angle substantially equal to the sum of the angular displacement of said tilt bracket with respect to said boom and the angular displacement of said carriage with respect to said tilt bracket.

9. In a carriage for mobile loaders, forwardly extending lift fork means mounted on said carriage, said means including at least one lifting fork having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, the combination of:

an elongated load engaging pin carried by the forward end of the horizontal leg of said lifting fork,

said load engaging pin extending laterally outwardly of the horizontal leg of said lifting fork, and

tapered filler means connecting the outward portions of said pin with the horizontal leg of said lifting fork.

10. The structure described in claim 9 wherein said load engaging pin is convex forwardly.

11. In a carriage for mobile loaders including a pair of forwardly extending lifting forks, the combination of:

upper arm structure mounted on said carriage above said forks for pivotal movement through a vertical are,

a plurality of parallel link members pivotally connected to said upper arm structure,

lower arm structure pivotally connected to the ends of said link members and carried thereby in spaced parallel relation to said upper arm structure, and

means for pivoting said link members, said lower arm structure and said upper arm structure from a forwardly disposed load clamping position above said forks with said lower arm structure in extended spaced relation to said upper arm structure to a rearwardly and upwardly disposed load supporting position above said carriage with said lower arm structure in closely spaced relation to said upper arm structure.

12. In a carriage for mobile loaders including a pair of forwardly extending lifting forks, the combination of: rearwardly extending bracket means secured to the top of said carriage,

upper arm structure pivotally mounted on said bracket means,

said upper arm structure being adapted when pivoted in a forward direction to overlie the top of said carriage,

a plurality of link members pivotally connected to said upper arm structure,

lower arm structure pivotally connected to the ends of said link members and carried thereby in spaced parallel relation to said upper arm structure,

first means for pivoting said link members to move said lower arm structure in directions toward and away from said upper arm structure,

and second means for pivoting said upper arm structure about its axis from a forwardly disposed load clamping position above said forks to a rearwardly disposed load supporting position above and behind said carriage,

said first and second means including hydraulic cylinder means connected so as to result in the extension of said lower arm structure with respect to said upper arm structure when said upper arm structure is in a forward load clamping position and the retraction of said lower arm structure towards said upper arm structure when said upper arm structure is in a load supporting position above and behind said carriage.

13. The carriage described in claim 12 wherein a hold down finger is pivotally connected to and forms a forward extension of said lower arm structure, and means for piv oting said hold down finger about its rear end, said hold down finger and said pivoting means being operable to effect the rotation of said finger from a forwardly disposed load clamping position to a rearwardly and upwardly disposed load supporting position.

14. In a carriage for mobile loaders including a pair of forwardly extending lifting forks, the combination of:

forwardly extending bracket means secured to the top of said carriage,

load gripping arm structure pivotally mounted on said bracket means in spaced relation to said forks,

rearwardly extending bracket means secured to the top of said carriage,

rear link structure pivotally connected at its lower end to said rear bracket means,

forward link structure pivotally connected at its lower end to said arm structure forwardly of its pivotal connection with said forward bracket means, and

hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected between the upper ends of said rear and forward link structures and said rearwardly extending bracket means,

said hydraulic cylinder means and said link structures being operable to raise and lower said load gripping arm structure.

15. In a loader including a mobile body, the combination of:

a vertically swingable boom pivotally carried by said body,

a load engaging frame pivotally carried by the front end of said boom,

a pair of forwardly extending lift arms carried by said frame,

a tilt bracket pivotally carried by the front end of said boom for vertical swinging movement about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said frame,

first hydraulic cylinder means connected between said tilt bracket and said frame for pivoting said frame,

second hydraulic cylinder means connected between said boom and said tilt bracket for pivoting said tilt bracket,

said first and second hydraulic cylinder means and said tilt bracket being operable when said boom is raised to pivot said frame and said lift arms from an upper load cradling position through a vertical arc to a lower angular position whereby said lift arms are downwardly and rearwardly inclined with respect to said boom, and

load clamping means carried by said frame above said lift arms.

16. In a loader, the combination of:

a mobile body,

a boom mounted on and extending from said body,

a load handling carriage having forwardly extending tines pivotally mounted on the end of said boom for swinging movement through a vertical plane,

tilting bracket structure pivotally mounted on the end of said boom for swinging movement through a vertical plane,

first hydraulic tilt cylinder means connected between said tilting bracket structure and said carriage operable to swing said carriage from an upper load cradling position through a vertical plane to an intermediate angular position therebelow,

second hydraulic tilt cylinder means connected between said boom and said tilting bracket structure operable to swing said bracket structure and said carriage through a vertical plane whereby to dispose said carriage and said tines in an extended angular position below the said intermediate angular position, and

load clamping means carried by said carriage above said tines.

17. In a loader including a mobile body, a vertically swingable boom rockably mounted on said body, a frame pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement on the end of said boom,

a tilt bracket pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement on the end of said boom about the same axis of rotation as said frame,

first hydraulic cylinder means connected between said tilt bracket and said frame for pivoting said frame relative to said boom,

second hydraulic cylinder means connected between said boom and said tilt bracket for pivoting said frame relative to said boom,

said first and second hydraulic cylinder means and said tilt bracket being operable to pivot said frame from an upper load cradling and pick-up position through a vertical arc to a lower load handling and discharge position, and

load clamping means carried by said frame.

18. In a mobile loader, the combination of:

a mobile body,

a boom pivotally mounted on said body,

a load handling carriage pivotally mounted on the forward end of said boom,

forwardly extending lifting forks secured to said carrlage,

a tilt bracket pivotally mounted on the forward end of said boom,

first power means connected between said boom and said tilt bracket for pivoting said bracket relative to said boom,

second power means connected between said tilt bracket and said carriage for pivoting said carriage relative to said tilt bracket,

said first and second power means and said tilt bracket being operable to swing said carriage from an upper load cradling position with said forks inclined upwardly to a lower load handling position with said forks positioned vertically when said boom is raised,

load clamping means pivotally secured to the top of said carriage and adapted for swinging movements from a forward load clamping position above said forks to a rearwardly and upwardly disposed load supporting position above said carriage, and

power means for actuating said load clamping means.

19. In a carriage for mobile loaders including a pair of forwardly extending lifting forks, the combination of:

upper arm structure mounted on said carriage above said forks for pivotal movement through a vertical arc, a plurality of parallel link members pivotally connected to said upper arm structure,

lower arm structure pivotally connected to the ends of said link members and carried thereby in spaced parallel relation to said upper arm structure,

means for pivoting said link members, said lower arm structure and said upper arm structure from a forwardly disposed load clamping position above said forks with said lower arm structure in extended spaced relation to said upper arm structure to a rearwardly and upwardly disposed load supporting position above said carriage with said lower arm structure in closely spaced relation to said upper arm structure, a hold down finger pivotally connected to and forming a forward extension of said lower arm structure, and

means for pivoting said hold down finger about its rear end, said hold down finger and said pivoting means being operable to effect the rotation of said finger from a forwardly disposed load clamping position to a rearwardly and upwardly disposed load supporting position.

20. The carriage described in claim 19 wherein said hold down finger includes a downwardly curved l-oad gripping plate having a pattern of load gripping protuberances on its lower surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,811,265 10/1957 Wagner 214 2,990,072 6/1961 Mindrum 214-141 X 3,178,046 4/1965 Lull 214-141 3,180,504- 4/1965 Gru-ben et a1. 214-14O 3,194,421 7/1965 Lull 214147 HUGO 0. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

5. IN A LOADER INCLUDING A MOBILE BODY, AND A BOOM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON AND EXTENDING FROM SAID BODY, THE COMBINATION OF: A LOAD HANDLING CARRIAGE INCLUDING FORWARDLY EXTENDING LIFTING TINES PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FRONT END OF SAID BOOM FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS, A TILT BRACKET PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FRONT END OF SAID BOOM FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS COINCIDENT WITH THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CARRIAGE, FIRST POWER MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID BOOM AND SAID TILT BRACKET, SECOND POWER MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID TILT BRACKET AND SAID CARRIAGE, SAID POWER MEANS, TILT BRACKET AND CARRIAGE BEING SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED AS TO EFFECT THE SWINGING OF SAID CARRIAGE THROUGH A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ARC FROM AN UPPER LOAD CRADLING POSITION WITH THE TINES THEREOF INCLINED UPWARDLY TO A LOWER LOAD ENGAGING POSITION WITH THE TINES THEREOF DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY. 